Course Aims:

  • To set and maintain the highest standards for those who wish to participate in the teaching of swimming on a professional or voluntary basis.
  • To ensure best practices are followed from both safety and child welfare points of view.

Pre-Course Requirements:

  • Have attained the age of 18 years.
  • Be holder of an Assistant Swimming Teacher Award or equivalent and provide proof of certification.
  • Be able to provide proof of having completed at least 20 hours of practical teaching under the supervision of a fully qualified Swimming Teacher. Supporting evidence by the named supervising Swimming Teacher may be sought.

Pre-Course Recommendations:

Ideally, candidates will have a Water Safety Ireland Swimming Teachers’ Life Saving Award or Safety 4 or equivalent before starting the course.

Those wishing to teach in an open water environment must have a lifesaving qualification not less than Water Safety Ireland’s Rescue 1 Award or acceptable equivalent and have completed Water Safety Ireland’s Open Water Teaching module.

While not essential at the start of, or during the course, all candidates should have achieved the stated life-saving standard before they begin to work more independently.

If it is not possible for a candidate to achieve or obtain the stated life saving criteria the qualification must only be used when a Pool Lifeguard is present.

Course Structure:

The course will consist of a minimum of 32 hours theory and 8 hours poolside practice.

Candidates must have an attendance in excess of 95% of the scheduled hours to complete the course. An attendance register will be kept by the course provider to support this requirement.

Course Content / Syllabus:

The Swimming Teacher Award comprises 10 units, as follows:

  • General Information
  • Health and Safety
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Learning and Skill Development
  • Integration of those with Additional Needs
  • Scientific Principles of Movement in Water
  • Six Strokes: Front Crawl, Back Crawl, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Inverted Breast Stroke and Life Saving Side Stroke
  • Other Aquatic Skills relevant to the Teaching of Swimming
  • Stroke and Aquatic Skills Analysis
  • Practical Teaching